LEIGH Miners Rangers booked their third Conference Trophy final appearance in four seasons following a 24-18 victory over Thornhill Trojans in the last four.

But the Premier Division title contenders were pushed all the way by a Thornhill side that is currently in second place in Division Three.

League standings cannot be taken at face value, however, especially given that Thornhill graced the top flight of the NCL six years ago before resigning and then rejoining the league.

The game was delicately poised with the Division Three side looking arguably the more likely to claim the win having battled back from 18-6 down at the break to level the scores with five minutes remaining.

But a desperate late effort by Miners averted extra-time and a cup upset to secure a final showdown against Premier side Wath Brow Hornets at Widnes in October.

Miners welcomed captain Scott O’Brien and Shaun Dowie back while Thornhill had experienced heads Scott Dyson and Anthony Broadhead playing but star full-back Joel Gibson was unavailable.

The Leigh v Hull KR game impacted on Miners' regular support, allowing the coachload of Thornhill supporters to turn a sweltering Twist Lane into a home-from-home for the visitors.

They had plenty to shout about in the opening stages as the Trojans bossed play, Dyson, Luke Haigh and Liam Morley throwing the ball about superbly and a strong pack led by Jake Wilson consistently making hard yards.

Miners were on the back foot, turning over possession cheaply when they got the ball, but they defended resolutely.

Thornhill eventually drove over the line to register the opening try, with Haigh showing some quick thinking to dart over. Danny Ratcliffe goaled.

Miners tried to respond but big centres Brad Hargreaves and Connor Partington were both held up short of the line.

O’Brien finally managed to find a way through after shaping to kick on the last tackle before instead scurrying through to put Dowie over at the posts, Jonny Youds goaling.

That score saw the home side kick on and seemingly seize full control of the game with two more tries before the break, first when Jimmy Muir whipped the ball left for Hargreaves to dummy his way over, then O’Brien set Martin Gray charging through from 10 metres.

Thornhill regrouped after the break and soon had a way back into the game when a cut-out pass put winger Mindaugas Bendikas over at the flag.

Miners had half-chances to hit back through breaks from Ellis Grimes and O’Brien but the game was right back in the balance on 60 minutes when Wilson finished off a tremendous passing move by the posts and Ratcliffe added the goal.

Thornhill's Scott Green then spilled a high kick with the line gaping.

Any further score from the visitors could easily have finished off Miners but with Darryl Kay, Tommy Parkinson and Dowie leading the scrambling defence they were just about hanging in before Ratcliffe levelled with a penalty under the sticks five minutes from time.

With extra time looming Dyson chanced his arm with a drop-goal attempt from inside his half but Miners marched downfield from the resultant set and although Youds saw his attempted one-pointer charged down the ball was regathered for Miners to enjoy another set of six on the Trojans’ line.

And Partington made the pressure tell, scattering the Thornhill defence to score the winning six-pointer.

The Alliance had a walkover win against Halton Farnworth while the women’s team went down to a heavy defeat at Thatto Heath on Sunday.

This Saturday, the first-team return to league duty against an Egremont side who lost out to Wath Brow in the other trophy semi-final, 2.30pm kick off at Twist Lane, with the Alliance team travelling to Bank Quay.

It’s a double header at Twist Lane on Sunday with the Under-18s playing Clock Face (12.30pm) followed by the women v West Craven.